Fuel packages



Aug. 30, 1966 H. KEY, JR 3,

FUEL PACKAGES Filed Sept. 18. 1963 z gm HOBART KEY, JR.

United States Patent 3,269,807 FUEL PACKAGES Hobart Key, in, 303 Perry Drive, Marshall, Tex. Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 309,835 10 Claims. (Cl. 44-40) This invention relates to fuels and more particularly to fuel packages.

An object of this invention is to provide a fuel package including a container having a quantity of fuel, such as charcoal briquettes, and an igniter disposed therein wherein the container is formed of a substance, such as hic-kory wood or the like, which imparts a desired aroma to the fire and a desired flavor to food cooked over such fire.

Another object is to provide a new and improved fuel package wherein the container is provided with flow passages for permitting circulation of air into the package through the sides and bottom thereof when an igniter disposed within the package is ignited to sustain a draft and provide for controlled combustion of the fuel and of the container.

Still another object is to provide a fuel package having a basket formed of a plurality of staves of aromatic wood which provide air flow passages or interstices therebetween in which charcoal briquettes and an igniter therefor are disposed, and a combustible lid closing the basket and having detachable means therein for providing an aperture through which access to the igniter may be had whereby ignition of the igniter through such aperture immediately causes combustion of the lid and the radially inward and upward circulation of air through the interstices of the basket to cause ignition of the charcoal briquettes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fuel package wherein the lower end of the igniter is spaced from the bottom of the basket by a layer of the fuel whereby bottom portions of the staves are shielded from ignition and smoulder for a long period of time.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fuel package wherein the burning of the easily ignited lid produces a draft through the body of charcoal and past the igniter to facilitate the ignition of the charcoal.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:-

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fuel package embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective sectional view of the fuel package showing it in position on a grate;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the fuel during an early stage of its combustion;

FIGURE 4 is .a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the fuel in a later stage of its combustion wherein the sides of the container have burned away and the fuel contained in the basket has spilled over the sides thereof and the bottom portions of the container are still smouldering; and,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the igniter.

Referring now to the drawing, the fuel package includes a basket 11 formed of a plurality of staves 12 which overlap each other in the usual manner to form an open topped receptacle or container. Each stave has opposite upwardly and outwardly extending end sections 120 and 12b which curve outwardly from the bottom or intermediate section 120 thereof. The intermediate bottom sections of the staves overlap at their central portions so that the central portion of the bottom is formed by a plurality of juxtaposed portions of the staves and thus has a maximum thickness of wood. A foot ring 14 of wood is stapled to the staves to hold the lower portions Ice of the staves in predetermined relationship to one another.

The upper ends of the staves are disposed between two inner and outer retainer rings 14 and 15 preferably of wood which are stapled to the staves. The overlapped portions of the adjacent staves are not in air tight or sealed relationship to one another and thus provide interstices or passages therebetween through which air may flow into the basket. Such passages, however, are of such small dimensions as to prevent passage of even small fuel particles therethrough.

The basket is closable by a circular lid 18 of cardboard or the like whose peripheral outer edge portions are radially slit as at 19 to permit the extreme outer peripheral portion of the lid to be bent upwardly to form the annular fiange 20. The cardboard is somewhat resilient so that as the lid is pressed downwardly and past the inner ring 14, the lid deforms resiliently to permit the movement of the flange down below the lower annular edge or shoulder 21 of the inner retainer ring. The flange 20 then moves resiliently outwardly to abut the inner surfaces of the staves and its outer and now upwardly facing annular shoulder or edge 22 is then alignment and engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder 21 of the inner retainer ring to thus lock or latch the lid against removal from the basket.

A mass or quantity of discrete pieces 25 of fuel such as charcoal, charcoal briquettes or the like is disposed in the basket about an igniter 27 whose lower end is spaced from the bottom of the basket by at least a layer of the charcoal so that the igniter does not rest on the bottom of the basket for a reason to be described below. The igniter may be of any suitable substance, such as paraffin and the like, and has a suitable wick 30 embedded therein which extends to the upper end thereof. The top end of the igniter is disposed immediately below a removable tab 31 of the lid which may be defined by a plurality of slits or perforations 32 which facilitate its removal to provide an aperture 33 in the lid immediately above the igniter. The bottom surface of the lid is spaced from the upper surface of the top layer of the charcoal in the basket and engages the top end of the igniter which limits its downward movement in the basket.

In use, the fuel package 10 is positioned on the grate 35 of a barbecue grill or the like over which a grill for supporting food to be cooked is positionable in the usual manner. The tab 31 of the lid 18 is then removed by tearing it out of the lid and the wick 30 of the igniter 27 is ignited through the aperture 33 of the lid. The igniter, since it is in contact and immediately below the lid, immediately ignites the lid. The burning of the portions of the lid adjacent thev aperture 33 immediately causes the circulation of air radially inwardly through the interstices between adjacent overlapping staves and through the pockets and passages formed in such mass of briquettes so that a good supply of air or draft of air through the charcoal causes its ignition as the temperature of the charcoal adjacent the igniter is raised due to the burning of the substance of which the igniter is formed.

The ignition and combustion of the lid is facilitated by the provision of the air space between the lid and the charcoal. As the lid burns outwardly from the aperture 33, it ignites the upper portions of the staves and the retainer rings which burn more rapidly than the charcoal, and since the ignition of the charcoal proceeds generally radially outwardly from the igniter the staves burn down past the level of the upper surface of the charcoal. The outer portions of the top layers of charcoal spill outwardly from their retained positions illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 4 to form a bed of charcoal of greater area than the cross-sectional area of the basket. The bottom portions of the staves burn slowly inwardly since the bottom is protected from direct contact with the flame of the igniter by a layer of the charcoal. In addition, the fact that all bottom portions of the staves intersect at the central portion of the bottom, a maximum thickness or amount of wood is disposed immediately below the center of the mass of charcoal. At least some portions of the staves thus burn slowly or smoulder during substantially the life of the charcoal fire.

The staves are made of aromatic wood, such as hickory, so that as they burn and smoulder they impart an aroma and a flavor to the food which is grilled over such fire of charcoal.

It will now be seen that a new and improved fuel package has been illustrated and described which includes a charcoal basket 11 formed in the usual manner of a plurality of overlapping staves 12 which at their upper ends extend between and are secured to inner and outer retainer rings, the inner retainer ring providing a downwardly facing annular stop shoulder 21 for securing the basket lid 18 formed of cardboard or the like, the lid and basket forming a closed container for a mass of fuel, such as charcoal briquettes, disposed therein Whose upper surface is spaced from the lid, and an igniter embedded in the mass of fuel and spaced from the basket and extending upwardly to the bottom surface of the lid and below a removable tab 31 thereof.

It will further be seen that the interstices between the overlapping portions of the staves of the basket while too small to permit the pieces of fuel to escape from the basket still permit circulation of air into the basket when the central aperture 33 provided in the lid by the removal of the tab 31 therefrom whereby the ignition of the igniter causes inward and upward circulation of air through the basket and the mass of fuel as the lid burns outwardly from the slot 33.

It will further be seen that during the burning process of the container, the aromatic substance of which the basket is formed imparts a desired flavor to the foods cooked over the fire so provided and that the bottom portions of the basket smoulder substantially throughout the life of the charcoal fire since the ignition of the charcoal is at locations spaced from the bottom of the basket and the upward flow or draft of air tends to keep such bottom portions of the staves below their ignition point so that the bottom portions of the staves forming the bottom of the basket tend to burn radially inwardly and smoulder for the period of time necessary to cook the food over the fire.

It will further be seen that the fuel package or charcoal basket is easily stored without spillage of the fuel or soiling of the hands or clothes of the the person handling the fuel package, that the basket itself provides the passages for the circulation of air of the loosely packed fuel contained in the basket, and that all portions of the basket, except the small staples which secure the wood rings to the staves, are combustible.

It will further be seen that, if desired, the bottom of the igniter may rest directly on the topmost bottom section 120 of a stave at the center of the basket while the top surface engages the bottom surface of the lid so that the igniter is held at its opposite ends against displacement in the basket until its lower end portion embedded in the charcoal and that the center portions of the bottom section 120 will smoulder for a very long period of time even though the igniter is not spaced therefrom by a layer of charcoal due to the fact that the thickness of wood forming the central bottom portion of the basket is quite great, for example, formed of eight strips of wood if the basket is formed of eight staves.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A fuel package comprising: an open topped combustible container having a bottom and an annular wall extending upwardly from outer edges of the :bottom, said bottom and annular walls having a plurality of apertures providing for flow of air therethrough into the container: a mass of fuel in said container, individual pieces of said fuel being larger than the apertures of said container; an igniter disposed in said container having lower portions thereof embedded in said mass of fuel and held thereby out of contact with the container; and a combustible lid closing said container and spaced above said fuel, said lid having a removable portion disposed above said igniter to provide an aperture in the lid through which access may be had to the upper end of said igniter for lighting said igniter, said igniter when ignited causing ignition and burning of said lid outwardly from said aperture thereof to cause a draft of air to be established through said apertures of said container to facilitate ignition of the fuel by said igniter.

2. A fuel package comprising: an open topped combustible container having a bottom and a continuous side wall extending upwardly from outer peripheral edges of the bottom, said bottom and side wall having a plurality of passages providing for flow of air therethrough into the container, a mass of fuel in said container; an igniter disposed in said container having lower portions thereof embedded in said mass of fuel and spaced from the bottom and side wall by said fuel; and a combustible lid closing said container and spaced above said fuel in said container, said lid having a removable portion disposed above said igniter to provide an aperture in the lid through which access may be had to the upper end of said igniter.

3. A fuel package comprising: an open topped basket comprised of a plurality of wooden staves having bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sections, said staves being positioned in overlapped relationship to one another to form an open topped container; means rigidly securing upper end portions of said staves to one another and providing an internal annular downwardly facing shoulder; a lid of combustible substance having an upwardly extending annular flange engageable with said downwardly facing annular shoulder for limiting upward movement of the lid in said basket, said lid having a removable portion for providing an aperture therein; a mass of discrete pieces of charcoal in said basket; and an igniter having a lower portion embedded in said charcoal and having an upper end adjacent said detachable portion, said charcoal separating bottom portions of said igniter from said staves.

4. fuel package comprising: an open topped basket comprised of a plurality of wooden staves having bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sect ons, said staves being positioned in overlapped relationship to one another to form an open topped contamer, said staves at their overlapped portions providing lnterstices through which air may flow into the basket; means rigidly securing upper end portions of said staves to one another and providing an internal annular downwardly facing shoulder; a lid of combustible substance having an upwardly extending annular flange engageable with said downwardly facing annular shoulder for limit- 1ng upward movement of the lid in said basket, said lid having a removable portion for providing an aperture therein; a mass of discrete pieces of charcoal in said basket; an igniter having a lower portion embedded in said charcoal and having an upper end adjacent said detachable portion, said charcoal separating bottom portions of said igniter from said staves, said interstices being of smaller dimensions than said pieces of charcoal.

5. A fuel package comprising: an open topped basket comprised of a plurality of wooden staves having bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sec;

tions, said staves being positioned in overlapped relationship to one another to form an open topped container; means rigidly securing upper end portions of said staves to one another and providing an internal annular downwardly facing shoulder; a lid of combustible substance having an upwardly extending annular flange engageable with said downwardly facing annular shoulder for limiting upward movement of the lid in said basket, said lid having a removable portion for providing an aperture therein; a mass of discrete pieces of charcoal in said basket, the top surface of said mass being spaced below the bottom surface of said lid; and an igniter having a lower portion embedded in said charcoal and having an upper end adjacent said detachable portion, said charcoal separating bottom portions of said igniter from said staves.

6. A fuel package comprising: an open topped basket comprised of a plurality of wooden staves having bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sections, said staves being positioned in overlapped relationship to one another to form an open topped container, said staves at their overlapped portions providing interstices through which air may flow into the basket; means rigidly securing upper end portions of said staves to one another and providing an internal annular downwardly facing shoulder; a lid of combustible substance having an upwardly extending annular flange engageable with said downwardly facing annular shoulder for limiting upward movement of the lid in said basket, said lid having a removable portion for providing an aperture therein; a mass of discrete pieces of charcoal in said basket, the top surface of said mass being spaced below the :bottom surface of said lid; and an igniter having a lower portion embedded in said charcoal and having an upper end adjacent said detachable portion, said charcoal separating bottom portions of said igniter from said staves, said interstices being of smaller dimensions than said pieces of charcoal.

7. A fuel package comprising: an open topped combustible container having a bottom and an annular wall extending upwardly from outer edges of the bottom, said bottom and annular wall having a plurality of apertures providing for flow of air therethrough into the container; a mass of fuel in said container, individual pieces of said fuel being larger than the apertures of said container; an igniter disposed in said container having lower portions thereof embedded in said mass of fuel and spaced thereby from said bottom and said wall; and a combustible lid closing said container and spaced above said fuel, said lid having a removable portion disposed above said igniter to provide an aperture in the lid through which access may be had to the upper end of said igniter for lighting said igniter, said lid engaging an upper end surface of said igniter, said igniter when ignited causing ignition and burning of said lid outwardly from said aperture thereof to cause a draft of air to be established through said apertures of said container to facilitate ignition of the fuel.

8. A fuel package comprising: an open top basket comprised of a plurality of wooden staves having bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sections, said staves being positioned in overlapped relationship to one another to form an open topped container,

said bottom intermediate sections intersecting and being disposed in juxtaposed relation at the central portion of the bottom of such basket; means rigidly securing upper ends of said staves to one another and providing an internal annular downwardly facing shoulder; a lid of combustible substance having an upwardly extending annular flange engageable with said downwardly facing annular shoulder for limiting upward movement of the lid in said basket, said lid having a removable portion for providing an aperture therein; a mass of discrete pieces of charcoal in said basket; and an igniter having a lower portion embedded in said charcoal and spaced thereby from said side sections of said staves and having an upper end adjacent said detachable portion, said igniter resting on said central portion of said bottom and having its upper end engaged by said lid.

9. A fuel package comprising: an open topped basket comprised of a plurality of wooden staves having bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sections, said staves having intersecting juxtaposed bottom intermediate sections and upwardly extending side sections, said side sections of said staves being positioned in overlapped relationship to one another, said lid and said basket having co-engageable means preventing removal of the lid from said basket, said lid having a removable portion for providing an aperture therein; a mass of discrete pieces of charcoal in said basket; and an igniter having a lower portion embedded in said charcoal and having an upper end adjacent said detachable portion.

10. A fuel package comprising: an open topped combustible container having a bottom and annular wall extending upwardly from outer edges of the bottom, said bottom and wall having a plurality of apertures providing for flow of air therethrough into the container; a mass of fuel in said container, individual pieces of said fuel being larger than the apertures of said container; an igniter disposed in said container having lower portions thereof embedded in said mass of fuel and spaced thereby from said wall, said igniter having its lower end supported on said bottom; and a combustible lid closing said container and spaced above said fuel, said lid having a removable portion disposed above said igniter to provide an aperture in the lid through which access may be had to the upper end of said igniter for lighting said igniter, said lid engaging an upper end surface of said igniter whereby said igniter is held against displacement by engagement with said bottom and said lid, said igniter when ignited causing ignition and burning of said lid outwardly from said aperture thereof to cause a draft of air to be established through said apertures of said container to facilitate ignition of the fuel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,099,529 6/ 1914 Wittmann 44-40 3,034,873 5/ 1962 Weir 44-40 3,124,432 3/ 1964 Gentry 4440 DANIEL E. WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

C. F. DEES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FUEL PACKAGE COMPRISING: AN OPEN TOPPED COMBUSTIBLE CONTAINER HAVING A BOTTOM AND AN ANNULAR WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM OUTER EDGES OF THE BOTTOM, SAID BOTTOM AND ANNULAR WALLS HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES PROVIDING FOR FLOW OF AIR THERETHROUGH INTO THE CONTAINER; A MASS OF FUEL IN SAID CONTAINER, INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF SAID FUEL BEING LARGER THAN THE APERTURES OF SAID CONTAINER;; AN IGNITER DISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER HAVING LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF EMBEDDED IN SAID MASS OF FUEL AND HELD THEREBY OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE CONTAINER; AND A COMBUSTIBLE LID CLOSING SAID CONTAINER AND SPACED ABOVE SAID FUEL, SAID LID HAVING A REMOVABLE PORTION DISPOSED ABOVE SAID IGNITER TO PROVIDE AN APERTURE IN THE LID THROUGH WHICH ACCESS MAY BE HAD TO THE UPPER END OF SAID IGNITER FOR LIGHTING SAID IGNITER, SAID IGNITER WHEN IGNITED CAUSING IGNITION AND BURNING OF SAID LID OUTWARDLY FROM SAID APERTURE THEREOF TO CAUSE A DRAFT OF AIR TO BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH SAID APERATURES OF SAID CONTAINER TO FACILITATE IGNITION OF THE FUEL BY SAID IGNITER. 